NCsoft Europe brings online gaming to Technology Retailer Show

Thursday 7 April 2005/... NCsoft^TM Europe, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today confirmed the products it will be presenting at the Technology Retailer Show in Birmingham next week.

Max Brown, sales and operations director at NCsoft Europe, said: "We recognise that PC retailers are an important channel for our product range. We now need to demonstrate to them the additional revenue streams afforded by online games and the incremental value offered by ancillary products such as time cards. Retailers will be able to get hands on with the latest online games on our stand and will see for themselves exactly why their customers will appreciate them stocking NCsoft titles."

In City of Heroes^TM players get to realise their comic book dreams by creating their very own super-powered hero. With its non-traditional setting, a first for an MMO title, and its casual-player-friendly structure, City of Heroes has attracted gamers from across the spectrum and won two prestigious Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards. City of Heroes was released in Europe in February 2005.

Guild Wars^® is an online role-playing game that rewards player skill. Players explore a rich fantasy game world, acquire skills, build personalised characters and compete in head-to-head guild battles with friends around the world. Guild Wars will be released on 28th April 2005.

Auto Assault^TM is a Massively Multiplayer Online game that combines vehicular combat with role-playing elements. You explore a post-apocalyptic future in customisable cars, motorcycles, trucks and even tanks, destroying everything that moves, and most things that don't. The uniquely destructible world, powered by the Havok 2^TM physics engine, makes jumping ravines, smashing through barriers, and sending buildings crumbling to the ground incredibly realistic. With non-stop action at every turn, in Auto Assault you level up while you play, rather than play to level up. Auto Assault will be released later this year.

NCsoft Europe will be on Stand 1094 in Hall 1.

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About ArenaNet

ArenaNet^TM, located in Bellevue, Washington, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft and was founded by some of the key members of the creative teams that developed the hit game series StarCraft, Warcraft, and Diablo as well as Battle.net. ArenaNet has built a state-of-the-art, interactive game network and is developing premier multiplayer online games for dedicated game players. More information about ArenaNet can be found at www.arena.net.

About Cryptic Studios

Cryptic Studios, Inc., located in San Jose, California, was established in July of 2000 and is an independent developer of massively multiplayer online games for the PC and next generation consoles. Its first game, City of Heroes, launched in April 2004. The game takes place in a virtual world where thousands of people play simultaneously, take on the role of super-powered heroes, fight villains and help create a dynamic story in a visually-stunning, 3-D graphical world.

About NetDevil

NetDevil was founded in 1997 under the inspiration of Jumpgate^TM, the world's first massively multiplayer space simulator universe. NetDevil is an independent game development company dedicated to the construction of massively multiplayer universes. NetDevil is committed to creating immersive, interactive virtual worlds in unique settings outside the typical fantasy genre. For more information, please visit http://www.netdevil.com.

About NCsoft Europe

NCsoft Europe is headquartered in Brighton, England and is part of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online games. NCsoft has already successfully established itself in North America, Japan, Taiwan, China and Thailand. NCsoft Europe began operations on 1st September 2004 and serves as a central hub for all NCsoft sales, marketing and distribution operations in Europe, via its European distribution network. NCsoft Europe launched Lineage^® II in November 2004, City of Heroes^TM on 4th February 2005 and Guild Wars^® is scheduled for 28th April 2005. More information about NCsoft Europe can be found at http://www.plaync.com.

NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, Guild Wars, ArenaNet, Lineage, and all associated NCsoft logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation. City of Heroes is a trademark of Cryptic Studios, Inc. and NCsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.